Race, class, gender, and waste: a spatial analysis of landfill siting and intersectional inequities in South Carolina, USA

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ABSTRACT Landfilling is one of the most common waste management strategies and is a significant source of environmental degradation. While research has shown that landfills are more commonly placed in low-income communities and communities of color throughout the United States, less has been done to evaluate landfill siting from an intersectional perspective. To address this gap, this study examined the distribution and disparities related to the placement of landfills throughout South Carolina using an environmental justice and intersectional lens. We used buffer analysis and inferential spatial statistics to assess the relationship between landfill siting and population characteristics. The study found that higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents were in proximity to a landfill, while households with lower socioeconomic status (SES) were also disproportionately located near landfills. The study also demonstrates evidence of intersectional impacts from landfill siting, particularly with respect to combinations of race, class, and gender. These results provide insight into concerns related to environmental justice and intersectionality related to landfilling in South Carolina, which can assist policymakers in decision-making and community outreach efforts. To conclude, this study provides policy implications and additional considerations related to environmental justice and intersectional concerns related to landfills in South Carolina.